Written Answers Nos. 161-181
161. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will support a matter (details supplied) regarding dog fouling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5159/15]
View answerThe Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 provide the statutory framework to combat littering and include provisions relating to dog fouling. Under the Acts, the primary management and enforcement response to littering (including dog fouling) is a matter for local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate course of action to tackle litter pollution locally within the legislation provided, including the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement and clean-up actions in relation to litter and dog fouling, taking account of its own local circumstances and priorities.
Section 16 of the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 and 1992 set out the powers of dog wardens. In addition, section 28 of the Litter Pollution Acts provides that a dog warden, within the meaning of the Control of Dogs Act 1986, may issue a notice or on-the-spot fine to an individual believed of committing a prescribed offence under the Act. It is also open to a member of An Garda Síochána or a litter warden under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997-2009 to issue a notice where an offence is believed to have been committed. Local Authority Performance Indicators, including those pertaining to litter enforcement, are available at: http://www.lgma.ie/en/search/node/service%20indicators. However, there is no breakdown available that provides the level of detail sought.I am of the view that there are sufficient penalties in place and that the powers are conferred on appropriate personnel to deal with the issue of dog fouling when enforced under the Litter Pollution Acts and I have no plans to introduce further legislation at this time. I believe that raising awareness of the litter problem and educating our young people is key to effecting a long-term change in society’s attitudes towards litter disposal but, ultimately, it is the responsibility of each individual to ensure that they play their part in preserving the environment for others through the responsible disposal of their litter, including in relation to dog fouling.
162. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the arrangements to be put in place for the administration and the payment of the new conservation grant; the timeframe involved; if application forms will be posted out to houses or if applicants will be able to apply online; if applicants will be required to give their PPS numbers; if persons who have not paid their local property tax will receive this grant; the contact his Department will have with the Revenue Commissioners to verify payments and PPS numbers, where appropriate; the additional information his Department will require to process the applications for the conversation grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5162/15]
View answerTo promote sustainable use of water and to enhance water conservation in households, the Department of Social Protection will administer, on behalf of my Department, a €100 water conservation grant for households (principal private dwellings) that complete a valid response to Irish Water’s customer registration process. This requirement to respond to the Irish Water registration process is set out in the Water Services Act 2014, which also provides for the making of regulations that will set out the terms, conditions and eligibility criteria applying to the scheme, including the date by which a response to Irish Water’s customer registration process will be required in order to be eligible for the grant. I will be making these regulations in due course. It is intended that the Department of Social Protection will manage the grant application process through an online interface. It is proposed that the grant will be paid in one instalment to all eligible households in September 2015 and on an annual basis thereafter.
The water conservation grant replaces the tax rebate and social protection measures previously announced, as it is a more straightforward means of addressing water issues for all households on equal terms and will reduce households’ outlay on water services both now and in the future.
As the Department of Social Protection will administer the grant the process is streamlined and clearer for householders. It is also important that all households have an equal chance to reduce their water consumption in their principal private dwellings. This approach ha s a number of policy advantages as it makes water charges more affordable for lower income groups; conservation ensures a better use of our water resources and avoids unnecessary or premature expansion of water treatment plants; and it is environmentally sustainable and protects our water environment which is to the benefit of all citizens.
163. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide information on plans by his Department to initiate a social housing building programme in County Louth on land banks reserved for social housing which are currently costing Louth County Council upwards of €3 million per year in interest only payments which are deducted from the council's annual budget; if he will refer to the plans, timeframe and number of units on same lands at Ballymakenny Road in Drogheda, Mount Avenue and the Point Road in Dundalk and lands in Dunleer, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5054/15]
View answerThe provision of social housing services is a matter for each local authority as the housing authority for its area. Each authority has responsibility for identifying their area’s social housing need and responding as required, including planning and undertaking new social housing developments to meet this need. My Department is currently engaging with all local authorities in respect of their individual plans for social housing developments, and in the case of Louth County Council, I expect that they will have regard to the suitability and availability of land banks when making proposals.
164. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to the building of a domestic extension for a family member and two small children who were made homeless and are on the housing waiting list for a private family home, if there is an exemption for the requirement of a design-and-assign certifier which involves a costly fee of €3,000 to oversee the works of the builder of the extension, which is under 60 sq. m; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5056/15]
View answerIn accordance with the Building Control Regulations 1997 to 2014, an extension to a dwelling involving a floor area greater than 40 square metres and which does not constitute exempted development for planning purposes, requires statutory certification by a registered professional for building control purposes. The fee for the professional services is determined by market forces and consumers are advised to shop around to get most favourable quote having regard to quality of service and cost. I have indicated that I am receptive to addressing concerns regarding the cost burden of the building control regulations in the case of one-off dwellings and extensions to dwellings. I have instructed my Department to review this aspect as a matter of priority and I expect to receive the outcome of this review this month.
165. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authority development contribution schemes for residential extensions should make provision, that is exemption, for that area of the house that has been demolished before construction of the extension, for example in a development totalling 200 sq. m, of which 50 sq. m are existing development, contributions should only be levied on the additional 150 sq. m. [5090/15]
View answerThe charging of development contributions is intended to allow local authorities to recoup some of the costs to public funds of servicing land for private development. Without such contributions, this servicing would not proceed or the full cost would have to be borne by the taxpayer. Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, income from development levies must be ring-fenced to pay for facilities servicing new development, for example, for roads, footpaths, public lighting and open spaces. Development contributions are levied by planning authorities on the basis of a development contribution scheme approved by the elected members which sets out how contributions are to be applied in their respective functional areas. The level of contribution, and the types of development to which development contributions should apply, is therefore determined at local authority level in accordance with the powers vested in elected members in this connection.
My Department issued statutory guidelines on development contributions to all planning authorities in January 2013. These guidelines emphasise the importance of promoting development through the application, where feasible, of reduced development contributions to facilitate development and promote economic activity and job creation in local areas. With regard to small-scale redevelopment-type projects, the guidelines specifically require that planning authorities should include in their development contribution schemes provision that charges should only be applied on net additional development e.g. in respect of a redevelopment totalling 200 sq. m of which 150 sq. m is replacing existing development, a development contribution charge should only be levied on the additional 50 sq. m.
As Minister, I have a statutory role as consultee in the preparation of development contribution schemes under section 48 of the Planning Act. My Department monitors the implementation of these guidelines, including the waiver mentioned above. Where a proposed development contribution scheme of a planning authority is not in accordance with the guidelines, my Department has issued observations to the relevant planning authority and, under the terms of section 48(7) of the Act, the elected members are obliged to have regard to my recommendations in finalising their development contribution scheme.
166. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of funding to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for the adaptation of council homes for tenants with disabilities; and his views on whether the funding is adequate, considering a tenant who applied for a walk-in shower, with all supporting occupational therapy documentation in July 2014, cannot be put on the works-list until 2016, at the earliest. [5130/15]
View answerMy Department allocates funding to local authorities towards the cost of adaptations and extensions to social housing to meet needs of tenants with a disability or to address serious overcrowding. Funding from my Department meets 90% of costs, with each local authority providing the remaining 10%. In 2014, funding of €373,599 was provided to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council under this programme. My Department is currently awaiting information from local authorities in relation to requirements for 2015 ahead of new allocations being made. All aspects of the administration of this funding locally is a matter for each local authority, including decisions in relation to the projects to be implemented.
167. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding broadband. [5060/15]
View answerThe National Broadband Scheme ("NBS") was designed to provide access to basic broadband in parts of rural Ireland where no broadband services were available. In accordance with the EU State Aid clearance for the Scheme, the NBS contract was for a 5 year period and it expired in August 2014. The expiry of the NBS contract has not resulted in any switch-off of services and there are now commercial options, in terms of access to basic broadband, available to consumers in NBS areas. The Government is now focused on the provision of high-speed broadband services in rural parts of the country where commercial operators are unlikely to invest due to poor commercial returns. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service.
The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades. Approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland are expected to have access to commercial high speed broadband services over the next two years. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.
On the 24 November last, a public consultation on a national high speed coverage map 2016 was launched. This consultation will close on the 12th February next. The map can be accessed at www.broadband.gov.ie. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016. The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention. This includes Dring, Co Longford.
The map allows all members of the public, be they business or residential, to see whether their premises or home will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016 or whether they will be included in the Government's proposed intervention. It also provides detailed information on over 50,000 townlands throughout the entire country.
It is anticipated that speeds of at least 30 Mbps will be also delivered through the Government's intervention and the network will be designed to cater for future increased demand from consumers and business.
In tandem with the mapping consultation, intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy. The strategy will address a range of issues in relation to the intervention including the optimum procurement model, ownership model for the infrastructure, intervention cost and likely market impact.
Following the public consultation, towards the end of this year a detailed procurement process will be undertaken in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders. The Department will design a tender in a way that maximises efficiencies and keeps the cost of the network build as low as possible. I anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having all premises connected within a 5 year period.
This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government. It aims to conclusively address current connectivity challenges in Ireland.
168. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to correspondence between his office and Cork County Council if his Department will facilitate a request to have broadband infrastructure laid through the town of Bandon, County Cork, during the upcoming works on flood and drainage schemes and if so, the assistance his Department will offer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5118/15]
View answerThe Government recognises the need for access to high speed broadband to be provided on a nationwide basis. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades. Approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland are expected to have access to commercial high speed broadband services over the next two years. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.
On the 24 November last, a public consultation on a national high speed coverage map 2016 was launched. The map can be accessed at www.broadband.gov.ie. The areas on the map marked Blue will all have access to high speed broadband services of at least 30 mbps from the commercial sector by end of 2016, and this includes Bandon, Co Cork, where at least one operator is already advertising the availability of high speed broadband services. The areas marked Amber will require the intervention of the State. It is anticipated that speeds of at least 30 Mbps will also be delivered through the Government’s intervention.
The map allows all members of the public, be they business or residential, to see whether their premises/home will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016 or whether they will be included in the Government's proposed intervention. It also provides detailed information on over 50,000 townlands in every county in Ireland.
The decision on whether or not ducts would be laid in conjunction with the major works on flood prevention and sewerage schemes which are due to recommence in Bandon in March 2015 is a matter for Cork County Council. My Department is not in a position to fund broadband works of this nature and such funding, if it was available, would be subject to State Aid rules.
In terms of the roll out of infrastructure under the NBP, the intervention strategy that is currently being developed will ensure that any infrastructure build is done in the most cost efficient manner utilising existing infrastructure to the greatest extent possible. This could include any duct or infrastructure which Cork County Council chooses to install.
169. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the revised guidelines on wind farms will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5138/15]
View answerWork is being advanced by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, in conjunction with my Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, on the review of the 2006 Wind Energy Guidelines in relation to noise, proximity and shadow flicker. It is proposed to update the relevant sections of the existing Guidelines on these specific issues. It is intended that the revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines will be finalised as soon as possible.
170. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the established technologies now associated with the generation of electricity from wind energy, his views on redirecting supports to other technologies in the renewable area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5140/15]
View answerThe overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of its heat, and 10% of its transport, from renewable sources. Figures for 2013 show that 20.9% of electricity demand was met from renewables.
Ireland is regarded as a stable and favourable investment environment for renewable energy production, supported by a variety of policy initiatives including the Renewable Energy Feed-In-Tariff (REFIT) scheme. The existing feed-in tariff is a very cost effective tool to support renewable energy production, as outlined in a report published by the Council of European Energy Regulators in January.
To date onshore wind energy has been the most cost effective renewable technology in the Irish electricity market, contributing most towards the achievement of the 2020 target. There is also potential to diversify our renewable electricity generation portfolio in the period to 2020 and beyond by realising the potential of our indigenous resources such as ocean, bioenergy and potentially solar energy.
The cost effectiveness of support for renewables is a key consideration in the work now underway in my Department to consider the appropriateness and design of any new support scheme for renewable electricity. Any scheme would be subject to EU rules on State Aid. The commercial success of onshore wind means that we are now at the point where a gradual move to a more market based support for the technology is appropriate. Taking account of developments in EU electricity market integration, my Department will be engaging with stakeholders in this work, a key component of which will be consideration of the available technologies, their cost effectiveness and the level of any support required.
171. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has had discussions with his EU colleagues regarding the need for the reduced cost of oil on world markets to be passed on the from the energy sector to energy users, including those in this country; if overtures have been made to the relevant stakeholders at national or European level in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5155/15]
View answerOil in Ireland is primarily used in the transport sector and the heating sector. Oil use in electricity generation is negligible at less than 1%. The oil market in Ireland is completely liberalised, privatised and deregulated. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission monitors the oil market to ensure that the market is functioning well and that consumers are not being disadvantaged. Both crude oil and refined oil products are very much globally traded commodities. The EU’s main role with regard to oil price developments is one of market monitoring. There has been no major discussion at EU level about the fall in the price of oil being passed on to consumers. The European Commission maintains a Statistics and Market Observatory, which publishes a weekly Oil Bulletin with consumer prices of petroleum products in EU Member States, including Ireland. The Oil Bulletin is designed to improve transparency and strengthen the internal market. It contains tables with consumer prices in all 28 Member States, as well as separate euro-area and non-euro area tables and information on prices with and without taxes.
It is evident from the EU's Oil Bulletin that prices are falling. As of 26 January 2015, the price of petrol in Ireland was €1.25 per litre including taxes and duties, while the price of diesel was €1.19 per litre including taxes and duties. In the same period last year, the price of petrol was €1.53 per litre and the price of diesel was €1.47 per litre.
172. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which his Department monitors the efficacy of the telecommunications sector in its entirety in ensuring that all aspects of the telecommunications sector here are in keeping with best practice internationally in terms of range, cover, quality and accessibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5157/15]
View answerThe provision of electronic communications networks and services occurs within a fully liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). ComReg regulates in accordance with an EU regulatory framework establishing a competitive internal EU electronic communications market. It is allowed to intervene in the competitive market to ensure at least one telecommunications services provider meets all reasonable requests from the public for basic telephony services, including voice telephony, fax and internet access, as basic EU universal public access rights. This obligation is currently assigned to eircom. The provision of additional or higher value communications networks and services by eircom and others is a commercial decision for each competing network or services provider. Neither my Department nor ComReg, the independent market regulator, can compel any commercial operator to provide such networks or the associated services.
Ireland continues to benefit from significant commercial investment in broadband infrastructure and services across all technology platforms. In addition, the Government's National Broadband Plan commits to ensuring access to high-quality broadband services in those parts of the country that will not benefit from the aforementioned commercial investment.
173. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that the revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2009 was adhered to when the Government agency Fáilte Ireland decided to dispose of a property in west Cork. [5050/15]
View answerI understand that, in its follow-up response to a previous question from the Deputy in relation to the disposal of a property in West Cork, Fáilte Ireland mistakenly quoted from an earlier Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.
However, having made further enquiries on this matter, I am assured that Fáilte Ireland did in fact comply with the requirements of the revised 2009 Code of Practice, including Section 18 of the Code which relates specifically to the disposal and acquisition of assets.
As the acquisition and disposal of the property are operational matters for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland, I have referred the Deputy's question to them asking that they clarify this position in a direct reply to the Deputy and provide further information on the specifics of this case. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply from Fáilte Ireland within ten working days.
174. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding persons who booked their national car test well in advance on its renewal date but were unable to secure an appointment until after this date; if such persons are entitled to continue using their vehicle while awaiting their NCT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5131/15]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006), the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of the National Car Testing Service (NCTS).
As the Deputy may be aware, the NCT can be undertaken up to 90 days in advance of the test due date without affecting the expiry date of the new certificate. This system is to ensure that owners have ample time to have their vehicle tested before their current NCT certificate expires. I understand from the RSA that the majority of persons who fall into the category referred to by the Deputy, namely those who book a test well in advance of their test due date, will be offered a test date prior to the expiry of their current NCT certificate. The RSA advise that any such customers who may find themselves with a test appointment beyond their test due date should contact the NCTS and request an earlier appointment and I am sure they will be accommodated.
I also understand from the RSA that customers who require an early test are likely to receive an NCT appointment within 28 days. While it may be necessary to hold such a request on a waiting list until a suitable slot is found, in the majority of cases such customers are given a slot within the required timescale.
Enforcement of the relevant legislation is a matter for An Garda Síochána. If a person’s NCT test date is imminent, it will be a matter for the Gardaí to use their discretion. However, responsibility rests with owners and users of vehicles to ensure their vehicles are in compliance with the law.
175. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1129 of 4 November 2014, to outline details of the spending made by the Drogheda Port Company on the Bremore project since publication of accounts in December 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5046/15]
View answerFurther to my answer to the Deputy of 4 November 2014, the position in relation to the Bremore project remains the same.
Drogheda Port Company’s 2013 accounts are publicly available and provide a figure for capitalised expenditure on investment in the Bremore project. The port have confirmed that in 2013 expenditure of approximately €9,000 was incurred in addressing legacy administrative issues in relation to the project. The audited accounts for 2014 are not yet available. Expenditure incurred by the company on any project is a matter for the Board.
Since the publication of the National Ports Policy 2013, which specifies that large scale infrastructure projects will be led by ports of national significance, no further investment has been made by Drogheda in this regard.
176. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Drogheda Port Company acted outside its geographical limits, as laid out in the Harbour Acts, through expenditure on Bremore project over several years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5047/15]
View answerIt is a statutory objective of each port company, inter alia, to take all proper measures for the development of its harbour, to promote investment in its harbour and to engage in any business activity either alone or with others, to develop its harbour. The Bremore proposal emerged from Drogheda Port Company's consideration of its statutory remit. There is no issue per se with the fact that the physical location of what was the Bremore proposal lay outside the statutory harbour limits of Drogheda Port Company. The Company spent a number of years engaged in the necessary feasibility and planning work which one would expect of a project of this scale.
However, in the intervening years since this proposal was first mooted, the economic and policy perspective has changed significantly. It is important that, in the State commercial ports sector, bodies bringing forward significant port capacity developments have the resources required to ensure the State’s and the public’s interest is protected and enhanced. National Ports Policy, published in 2013, outlines the Government’s position that nationally significant port infrastructure projects should be led by the Ports of National Significance (Tier 1 and Tier 2) and that shareholder support for major port capacity developments will only be considered within that policy framework.
177. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to amend the penalty point regulations to make the traffic offence of breach of weight restrictions traffic management an offence for which penalty points will be imposed, and if so, when he plans to make this amendment. [5052/15]
View answerThe offence that Deputy Dowds mentions has recently become a Fixed Charge Notice and penalty point offence. It is an offence under Article 9 of the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking ) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 332 of 2012), for the driver of a vehicle, the weight of which exceeds the weight displayed on traffic sign RUS 053, to proceed beyond the sign. Traffic sign RUS 053 is a maximum design gross vehicle weight (safety) sign.
This offence became a Fixed Charge Notice penalty point offence on the 8th December 2014. The offence carries three penalty points on conviction in court, or one penalty point if the €60 Fixed Charge amount is paid within 28 days or €90 within 56 days.
178. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will include the M20 Cork to Limerick motorway scheme in the statutory planning approval process, as his attention has been drawn to the fact that the scheme was withdrawn from the process in 2011 by the then transport Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5065/15]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Given the national financial position, there have been very large reductions in roads expenditure over the past number of years. The reality is that the available funds do not match the amount of work which could be undertaken. For this reason it has not been possible to progress a range of worthwhile projects and the main focus has to be on the maintenance and repair of roads and this will remain the position in the coming years. The scope for progressing new major road improvement projects will be very much dependent on the availability of funding in the future as the economy recovers further.
In 2011 my predecessor indicated to the NRA that it should withdraw its application to An Bord Pleanála for the M20 Cork to Limerick route. I understand Minister Varadkar was concerned that to proceed any further with the scheme to build the M20 would have exposed the NRA to significant costs arising from a consequent requirement to purchase the CPO'd land within a limited timeframe. This would have had to be done without the reasonable prospect of proceeding to the construction stage quickly.
Given continuing budget constraints and the need to focus on road maintenance and renewal, I do not currently plan to review this decision.
179. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the 547 submissions made to the National Transport Authority as part of the public consultation on the taxi fare increase, known as the taxi fare review, are publicly available; if he will provide same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5069/15]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the recent Fare Review, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
180. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received an application for funding from a group (details supplied) for €100,000 for a cycle path; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5126/15]
View answerNo formal application has been received from the group in question. However officials from my Department are meeting with proponents of the scheme today. All funding under both the National Cycle Network Funding Programme 2014-2016 and the Government Stimulus Package for the development of greenways is now fully committed.
However, it is possible, given the popularity and success of greenways already delivered, that funding may become available from other sources over the coming years. The EU Structural Funds Programme 2014-2020 is currently being finalised and there may be significant opportunities for cycle infrastructure development under Interreg and the Rural Development Programmes. I understand that a number of local authorities have positioned themselves to benefit from such opportunities and I would encourage all local authorities and community groups to progress work on any potential Greenways in their locality should such funding come available.
181. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to concerns regarding the lack of dredging on the lateral canals of the River Barrow and overgrown vegetation which is making navigation difficult; her plans to improve this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5137/15]
View answerI am advised by Waterways Ireland that, as the Barrow Navigation is wholly situated within the River Barrow and River Nore Special Area of Conservation (SAC) due regard must be given to the provisions of the EC (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. These require a rigorous assessment to be carried out to assess the impacts of any work on the protected species and habitats, prior to any works being undertaken. If the impacts cannot be screened out and a Stage II assessment is required, a full planning application must be made. In addition, the Fisheries Consolidation Act 1959 (as amended) prohibits any in-stream works, such as dredging, during the spawning season from October to June. I am informed by Waterways Ireland that dredging on the lateral canals of the Barrow Navigation was historically done during the winter months but that this is not now possible. However, Waterways Ireland is working with Inland Fisheries Ireland to formulate procedures which would allow work to be carried out in accordance with the relevant legislation. In addition, Waterways Ireland is continuing to work with all relevant agencies to ensure that as much work as possible is carried out on the Barrow within the time constraints which exist.
I have been assured by Waterways Ireland that it remains fully committed to the development of the Barrow Navigation in line with its statutory remit.
